Booster wind for spring motors



BOOSTER WIND FOR SPRING MOTORS Filed April 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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Jan. 25, 1944. c. L. TANNER BOOSTER WIND FOR SPRING MOTORS Filed April 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Jan. 25, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE noosraa wmn ron srame MOTORS Clarence L. Tanner, Wartrace, Tenn. Application April 11, 1942 Serial No. 438,656 2 Claims. (01. 185-27) This invention relates to spring motors, and more particularly to boosters designed for use in connection with spring motors, the primary object of the invention being to provide weight controlled means adapted to be geared with a spring motor, to partially rewind the spring of the motor at intervals, thereby appreciably increasing the operating period of spring motors, beyond the normal running period thereof resulting from a single winding.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readilyattached to spring motors now in common use, eliminating the necessity of making alterations in the motor construction, to mount the booster.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in' the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of a booster constructed in accordance with the invention, the ball or weight tracks of the booster, being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the booster attached to a spring motor.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmental elevational view illustrating the power take-off gearing of the spring motor.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 designates the base of the booster, which is provided with a support 6 at one end thereof, on which the spring motor indicated at I, is mounted.

The support also includes an inner member 8 which is formed with bearings in which the shafts of the spring motor and booster, operate.

A post indicated at 9, rises from one end of the base 5 and has connection with the bar l8 that in turn extends downwardly from the upper end of the post 9 and connects with the support 8. The base 5, post 9 and bar ll, provide a frame for the substantially triangular track in which the ball weights operate. The substantially triangular track includes an inclined section II, and an upper section l2 which is only slightly inclined to permit the ball weights to move slowly thereover, by gravity. A vertical section l3 forms a continuation of the section l2, and includes an outer member l4 that acts as a guard to hold the ball weights to the vertical section. The lower end of the vertical section is open to deposit the ball weights on the curved end l5 of the outer member H. The upper end of the vertical section i3 is open so that the ball weights which move over the upper section I2, will readily find their way into the vertical section. The various sections of the track embody curved spaced members held in longitudinal relation with respect to each other, as clearly shown by Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

At the lower end of the inclined section I I, is a shaft l8, on which the sprocket I1 is mounted, the sprocket l1 accommodating the chain [8 that .in turn moves over the sprocket 19 secured to one end of the shaft 20 mounted at the upper end of the inclined section II.

Mounted on the chain l8, and disposed in predetermined spaced relation with respect to each other, are lugs 2| that extend outwardly therefrom, the lugs 2| being adapted to engage the ball weights which are indicated at 22, to elevate them to the upper section l2 of the track, depositing them on the section l2 of the track. Mounted on the shaft I6 is a substantially large sprocket 28 over which the chain 24 moves. The chain 24 operates over the gear 25 which is rotated by the action of the spring 28 to the end that the chains l8 and 24 are operated to elevate the ball weights.

The reference characer 21 designates a disk that has a collar through which the pin 28 extends, the pin 28, securing thedisk 21 to the shaft 29, which constitutes the main power shaft of the spring motor. The spring 28, has one end thereof secured to the pin 88 that extends inwardly from the disk 21, the opposite end of the spring 28 being secured to the tubular shaft 8| which is mounted on the shaft 29. The reference character 82 indicates a ratchet wheel that is keyed to the tubular shaft 8|, the ratchet wheel cooperating with the pawl 88 to prevent reverse movement of the tubular shaft 3| and spring 28, after it has been wound.

The shaft 29 carries a pinion 84 on one end thereof, which meshes with the pinion 85 that in turn operates the governor 88. The pinion 84 also meshes with the pinion 31 which constitutes the power take-off pinion of the device.

On one end of the tubular shaft 3|, is a sprocket 8! over which the chain 10 operates, the chain also operating over the gear 40 which is secured to the hub 4|, to which the substantially flat arms 42 are pivotally connected, the hub being secured on the shaft 4i.

Openings are formed in the arms 42, at points substantially intermediate the ends thereof, the openings being designed to accommodate the ring 43, which is in the form of a rod, provided with threads 44 on which the nuts ll are positioned. These nuts ll are arranged so that a pair of nuts will be disposed at opposite sides of each arm 42, with the result that the arms 42 may be adjusted with respect to each other.

As clearly shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings. these arms I! are of lengths to extend appreciable distances beyond the ring 43, so that they will extend into the path of travel of the ball weights passing through the vertical section I3 of the track section. It might be further stated that the arms 42 are so spaced, that when a ball weight drops onto an arm, the arm engaged by the ball weight will be moved downwardly, clear of the vertical section of the track, and the adjacent upper arm will lie in a substantially horizontal position, with its free end extended into the vertical section of the track, so that the next ball weight dropped, will fall onto the arm to move the arm and sprocket which is connected with the arms, to wind the spring of the motor. From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, the ball weights will be constantly elevated to the upper section I! of the track and will roll over the upper section and fall into the upper end of the vertical section ll, from where they will drop onto the arm 42 which extends into the vertical track section. As the ball weights pass the arms, the arms and gearing connected therewith will be operated to wind the springs slightly, with the result that the same will be partially rewound with each movement of the arms, through the vertical section, thereby appreciably increasing the operating period of the spring motor associated therewith, beyond the normal running period of the motor, resulting from a single winding.

It will of course be understood that the initial winding of the motor is accomplished by grasping the arms 42, and manually rotating them in a direction to wind the spring of the motor.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a spring motor having a spring winding shaft, of a booster winding apparatus secured on said winding shaft and including radiating arms, a track mounted adjacent to the spring motor and including an upper inclined track section and a communicating vertical track section, ball weights movable by gravity over said track sections, said radiating arms extending into the vertical track section, and being disposed in the path of travel of the ball weights, whereby said ball weights engage the arms as the ball weights move through the vertical track section, rotating said winding shaft, an endless chain operating between one end of the inclined track section and the lower end of the vertical track section, lugs on said endless chain, into which the ball weights move, and means for operating the endless chain whereby the ball weights are elevated to the inclined upper track section. v

2. The combination with a spring motor having a spring winding shaft, of a booster winding apparatus, secured on said winding shaft, said winding apparatus embodying a hub secured to the winding shaft, arms pivotally connected with the hub and radiating therefrom, an adjustable ring extending through said arms and adapted to secure the arms in spaced relation with respect to each other, adjusting nuts on the ring and engaging opposite sides of the blade, whereby said blades are adjusted with respect to each other, a vertical track mounted adjacent to the spring motor, and said track having an opening through which the arms extend, ball weights movable through the track and adapted to drop onto the blades, rotating the arms whereby said winding shaft is rotated, and means for transferring said a ball weights from the bottom of the track section to the top of the track section.

' CLARENCE L. TANNER. 

